Two-ply pressing grid plate for steam pressing machines



.April 6, 1954 E. J. HOFFMAN 2,674,053

TWO-FLY PRESSING GRID PLATE FOR STEAM PRESSING MACHINES Filed May 26, 1952 Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE TWO-PLYPRE'S S'iN GRI PLA EF STEAM PRESSING MACHINES Edward J: Hoffman, Hollywood, Calif. Application May' 2'6, 1952, Serial No. 290,000

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to: improvements in pressing machines and it has reference more'particularly to the novel features and advanta ges" residing in an improved" form of b aifle for use in association with the head buck of a steam heated pressing machine for accomplishing a more satisfactory distribution of steam, as supplied through openings in' the head plate to the grid plate or pressing surface of the head b ucl z;

It is usual in the construction of the common types of clothes pressing machines, to provide the head buck with a steam chamber, equipped with a closure plate on its underside, known as the head plate, that is formed with a; plurality of holes 1% spaced over its area, for outflow of steaiil. from the chamber to the pressing surface as: formed 'by' the grid plate.

The pressing surface, as formed by the grfd plate; comprises a thin sheet of metalv that provided over its entire area with very sunallarid closed spaced perforations for the discharge at steam to dampen the article that is being pressed.

Various means have" heretofore been employed between the head" plate and the grid p1ate that overlies it to equalize the distribution of'stea'fii 4 but for various reasons have not satisfactory.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved form of bath, for disposi tion between the head plate of the head huckar'id the finely perforated grid plate that forms the pressing surface, whereby a uniform distributioiiiof steam over the entire pressing surfaceis better obtained and the usual marking of the pressed garments that occurs by reason of" the" larger holes in the headplate, is avoided.

More specifically stated, the present invention resides in the provision of an improved form of steam distributing baflle, for disposition between the head plate'and pressing surface-of the l'iead buck of a pressingmachin'e, whereby the cities? tionable nickle marks on" the pressed garment are avoided; whereby a uniform distribution of steam over all parts of the pressing surface" are effected; and which ha'fflemay be easily" and readily applied to the head 'huck without requir in'g rebuilding or alteration thereof; the present hafllei being characterized its construction by a successionof pa'rallel strips of thin, flexible sheet proven entirely metal, or the like; disposed' edge=to-edgeor slightly r overlapping", and each formed with a row" of slight protuberances along one edg'e thereof whereby the adjacent edgesof strips are caused to be sli'ghtly spaced; thus" toprovidenarrowslits Between them" through which sti'iam" that sup dndi piied through openiiigs i thhea'd p ste and di tributed over one side di the bafile, will be an d to pass to the opposite side thereofin uiii oii i distribution. for dissipation through the finely perr rated' grid plate that comprises the pressing" tails of construction, the preferred forms of w'hi'ch are illustrated in the accom anying drawings, wherein------ I I I J Fig. 1 is aplan view of a baffle, embodied by the present invention, as'pro-vided for application to the head buck of a. common type of clothes pressing machine; w 7

Fig. 2' is an enlarged, crossesectional view of a part of the baffle and adjacent parts, taken on line 2--2" in Fig. 1. x H

Fig; 3 is'a' cross sectidnal view of the headbuck (ifapressin'g I'n'achin'e', showing the application oft'he present b afile thereto. w I Fig; 4 is an enlarged, dress-sectional detail or a par't'ofa head bubk'as' equipped with a baiflebf' a1tei nat te' farm. I x p Y Fig. as an enlarged view, plan. of a portibii' ef the bafile of Fig. 1, showing the overlapped relationship oi ad acent baiile strips and their iatioiiship to the grid platearid head plate; v Fig. 6 is a similar view of parts'cfOhrirfyg rise'd the alternative form (if Hallie shdwh' in Fig 4'. Referring more detail tothedrawings I'ntiie drawings; Fig. 3 shows a; typical cross? section of the head buck of an ordinary typeof clothfes pressing" machine. The; shape of the headhuck} pian, is hidiea'ted' by'th'e' shape or tfhebafileaisseehirl-F EL 1. Usiia'lly the headbllck' or a pressing machine 'is abeut may ti/V9- inches 12mg" and about thirteen inches wideat' its larger a head" casting Iii which defi nes'the' shape and size of the buck and which casting theIt p' side and end walls of a steam? chamber IZ' to which steam is supp-lied" through a: pipe 13- that" enters the chamb'er'atthej top". The pipe I3 is" equipped with a'. suitable Ya1 v'e, n'O't herein Shelli/fl; for the controlled admittance of steam to the chambenas desired orreduired; hyfan' operator. The uiider side o f' the" chamber l2l'is; closed with a; trans'vl's'lyelll vd, rigid metal piate l5; lififlwi i The head buck, as herein shown, dompr'ises as the head plate, and this is formed, at spaced intervals over its surface with holes 16, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, for discharge of steam from the chamber to the pressing surface.

The pressing surface of the head buck is formed by a thin metal plate 211, known as the grid plate, that is shaped to the curvature of head plate [5, and which covers the entire area of the under side of the head buck. The plate 20 is formed entirely about its periphery with a short upturned flange 2| that fits to the peripheral edge of casting In as shown best in Fig. 3 for its proper securement. The plate 28 is formed over its entire surface with very small and closely spaced perforations 22, as seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Located between the head plate l5 and the grid plate 20 that forms the pressing surface, is the battle which is embodied by the present invention. The baffle, in its preferred form of construction, will now be described.

The present battle is applied to the grid plate 20 which forms what has herein been referred to as the pressing surface. The baflie is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising a succession of thin metal strips 25, disposed in parallel relationship, with edges Slightly overlappingas best understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 5. These strips extend the full length of the plate 20, as shown in Fig. 1, and cover its entire inside surface up to the vertical flange that is formed at the periphery of the plate.

In a present preferred form of construction, the strips 25 are of brass, but obviously may be of aluminum, steel, plastic or any rust proof sheet material of a practical and satisfactory character. Preferably, the strips are from to 1" in width and preferably, but not necessarily, about .005 thick. The successive strips may be held in their parallel and slightly overlapped relationship by spot welding them together at spaced locations. In Fig. l I have indicated the points of welding at 21-41. In lieu of this, they might be welded to the plate 20 only at their ends.

Each of the metal strips 25 is formed in that longitudinal edge portion thereof that overlaps with the next adjacent strip, with a row of rather closely spaced downwardly formed protuberances 30, which serve, as has been illustrated best in Fig. 2, to hold the overlapping portions of the strips in slightly spaced relationship and thus provide a succession of slits 32, opening from the top side to the bottom side of the battle, for an equalized distribution of steam to the perforations of the grid plate which constitutes the pressing surface.

It is shown in Fig. 2 that the underlapping longltudinal edge portions of the successive strips 25, rest upon the top surface of the grid plate 20, and the overlapping longitudinal edge portions are pressed against the under surface of the plate.

I5. Thus the spacing of the lapped portions of the strips can be accurately established and maintained in accordance with the downward extent of the protuberances. The intent is that the slits3-2 shall be very narrow and that a steam head will be built up over the entire top surface of the bafiie.

With the parts so constructed and assembled, it will be understood that the steam admitted under pressure into the chamber !2 from pipe I3 will be discharged through the holes IS in the head plate to the top side of the bafile, and will be distributed over the entire top surface thereof, and will then be discharged through the lcngitudinalslits 32 to the under side of the bafile and will flow under pressure to the perforations of the grid plate 20 and be dissipated from the latter to the garment being pressed.

One of the results of the use of the present bafiie is the avoidance of marking the pressed garment with the nickel marks, so called only because they are about the size of a nickel, and which without the baflie, are formed directly in line with the holes IS in the head plate. The main advantage of the use of the bailie is the uniform distribution of steam to all parts of the pressing surface, and the elimination of all marks that are caused by lack of uniformity in steam distribution.

The alternative form of bafile shown in Figs. 4 and 6 is like that above described except that the metal strips 25 which comprises the same are not overlapped, but are located in edge to edge spacing, and one longitudinal edge of each is held spaced slightly above the adjacent edge of the other by. the protuberances 33 therein which rest upon the top surface of the grid plate. The mode of use and results obtained by this form of construction are like those previously described.

Such baflles may have the parallel strips thereof extended lengthwise of the buck, as shown in Fig. l, or they may be diagonally or transversely directed and substantially the same results obtained therefrom. It is mainly a matter of choice.

Baffles of this kind have been found to be most satisfactory and are easy to apply, are durable and long lasting in use and relatively inexpensive.

As an additional feature, to be used with both the device of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, I apply a bounding baffle of angular form, designated at 35 which is applied about the buck across the ends of the strips 25 and along the edges as a means for de-' fleeting steam toward the center portion of the head. Also this baiile 35 serves to stabilize the ends of the strips 25. Its application is as shown in Fig. 2 or similar thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a pressing buck comprising a housing forming a steam chamber, a head plate closing one side of said chamber and formed with openings therethrough and uniformly distributed over its entire surface for outflow of steam from the chamber and a perforated grid plate applied over the head plate to form the pressing surface of the buck, the perforations of said grid plate being uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the plate and relatively small and is greatly increased in numbers over that of the head plate and a baffle disposed between the said head plate and the grid plate; said baffle comprising a succession of thin flat strips of flexible sheet material, with edges parallel and spaced to provide narrow slits between them and supported with their surfaces angularly disposed relative to the adjacent head plate and grid plate surfaces for the uniform distribution of steam, received from the chamber above the baflie, over the surface of the said grid plate.

2. In a pressing buck comprising a housing forming a steam chamber, a head plate applied to the housing and closing one side of said chamher and formed with openings for discharge of steam from the chamber, and a perforated grid plate applied over the head plate to form the pressing surface of the buck, and a steam distributing baiile disposed between the head plate and grid plate; said baflle comprising a succession of flat strips of thin, flexible sheet material with edge portions overlapped, and one of the overlapped portions of adjacent strips having protuberances formed in spaced relationship thereon, and engaged against the other to establish a spaced relationship of the strips for flow of steam from above the baifle to the surface of the underlying grid plate.

3. In a pressing buck comprising a housing forming a steam chamber, a head plate applied to the housing and closing one side of said chamber and formed with openings for discharge of steam from the chamber, and a perforated grid plate applied over the head plate to form the pressing surface of the buck, and a steam distributing bafile disposed between the head plate and grid plate; said bailie comprising a succession of fiat strips of thin, flexible sheet material with edge portions overlapped and one of the overlapped portions of adjacent strips having protuberances formed in spaced relationship thereon, and engaged against the other to establish a spaced relationship of the strips for flow of steam from above the baflle to the surface of the underlying grid plate, and means joining the strips together in parallel relationship.

4. In a pressing buck comprising a housing forming a steam chamber, a head plate applied adapted to support that edge of the strip from the grid plate and slightly above the level 01' the edge of the adjacent strip to provide a steam discharge slit between them.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,828,102 Davis Oct. 20, 1931 2,123,751 Sigal July 12, 1938 2,251,660 Chipley Aug. 5, 1941 2,393,697 Lornitzo Jan. 29, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,210 Great Britain Oct. 17, 1891 

